Fallen AFL star Ben Cousins 'living out of a backpack'
Fallen AFL star Ben Cousins is living out of a backpack, sleeping on mates’ couches and has reportedly lost everything to drugs.
He told a journalist he was having "a bit of a tough time" and without a home after his latest court appearance in Armadale Magistrate's Court.
Cousins, a 2005 Brownlow Medallist and 2006 West Coast premiership player, was given a $600 fine and released on bail for breaching a violence restraining order brought by former partner and mother of his two children Maylea Tinecheff.
Ben Cousins leaves Armadale Magistrates Court in Perth on Thursday. Photo: AAP
He told media he considered himself to be "really lucky" to be granted bail, having previously admitted he expected to spend Christmas in jail.
Cousins further detailed his troubles when one of their journalists offered him a lift after the taxi driver who came to collect the 35-year-old saw the media scrum and fled, News Corp reports.
"It's hard to know where to go to," he reportedly told the journalist as he decided on a destination.
"I am living out of a backpack at the moment.
Ben Cousins pictured with the Brownlow Medal in 2005. Photo: AAP
"I move between three mates' houses, spend time on different couches. There's a lady I knock around with these days who I stay with, otherwise I just move on to another place."
Police arrested Cousins on Tuesday after they spotted him in a park, with his children and their mother - in breach of an order that said he was not to approach within 50 metres of her.
Cousins' lawyer Aidan Kraus believed Cousins had learned his lesson, and that his motivation was see his children and continue with his treatment battling his long-standing drug addiction.
Ben Cousins has been fined $600 for breaching a restraining order. Photo: AAP
Magistrate Hawkins said she would free Cousins from custody - but warned him his liberty was still at risk.
"I hope you have learned your lesson, and you know how serious your position is," she said.
He is due in court again for two separate matters next week.
Cousins' battle with drug addiction has been well documented and has seen him face court several times in recent years.
Cousins playing for the West Coast Eagles.
Less than two weeks ago, a heavily medicated Cousins was granted bail after he had missed a court date, then crashed his car into a truck prompting a two day stay in hospital.
He had been due to appear in another allegation that he breached the restraining order taken out against him by Ms Tinecheff.
He did not arrive for that appearance, prompting an arrest warrant to be issued.
Later that evening, Cousins' car was involved in an accident with a truck on Abernethy Road, leaving him with injuries serious enough to warrant 48 hours of treatment at Royal Perth Hospital.
He was also charged with possession of meth, a small amount of which was allegedly found in his wallet by police after the crash.
Last year, Cousins pleaded guilty to trespass and property damage charges relating to a bizarre rooftop incident in Canning Vale.
He was fined $500 for trespassing on the roof of a house in March and $300 for causing damage to the roof tiles.
The former Eagles captain was held at Armadale Hospital for several days after the incident where he underwent a mental health assessment.
When police tried to take him into custody, he jumped fences and climbed onto the roof of a two-storey house where he paced until police officers talked him down.
